Commuter Cool: Easy Ways To Embrace The Return To Office Life

New Ways To Travel

The New Way To Ride

How we used to do it: Jumping on your bike or scooter has long been a great option for fast travel, especially when you’re commuting short distances. But there’s a new way to ride...

Make it better: An eScooter or ebike and a smartwatch can reinvent your morning commute.

Traditional bikes and scooters are wonderful, until you get to a hill, or you haven’t ridden for a while and need to get your leg strength back. Not everyone can go from zero to Cadel Evans, and that’s totally normal. Try supplementing your leg power with some electric power, utilising the latest eScooters and ebikes from Ducati, Niu and Himo. They make the transition easier and quicker, while letting you slowly build up your strength without forcing you to go from zero to 100 per cent and get injured like a traditional bike might. Paired with lights, a helmet and a lock, you’ll be ready for any adventure, from getting to work, riding by the beach or grabbing some ice-cream.

It’s also worth picking up a smartwatch to track your workouts, get handy tap-based directions so you can keep your eye on the road and have all the safety features that come with a health-focused device.

The New Train Commute

How we used to do it: Back in the day, the traditional commuter story – especially for those in the suburbs – was a drive to the station followed by a long train or bus ride with a good book.

Make it better: Embrace a new way by ditching the car and riding an eScooter, with your eReader or tablet tucked into your backpack.

A newspaper or book is just not as practical and portable as the alternatives. So why not trade up to a Kindle Paperwhite? It’s also waterproof so you can read it in the bath, and it’ll hold multiple books so you can have something for every mood.

Another option is to skip the metal tube full of loud people and their germs altogether, and ride an eScooter to work. It’ll get you outside in the sunshine and fresh air, and eScooters are more fun, too. See the range here.

The New Traffic Buster

How we used to do it: Monday commutes looked like morning radio and the Melway (or Refidex) on the motorway.

How to do it better: Serenade yourself with soothing sounds and stress-free directions.

The last thing you want on an already stressful commute is the sounds of talkback radio, filled with people being wrong while a shouty shock jock tries to make you angry about something you wouldn’t normally be interested in, all while getting lost. Why not switch it up by listening to a podcast on a topic you’re interested in, like true crime, music creation or the behind-the-scenes information on shows you love?

Meanwhile, the Garmin GPS can give you clear directions and traffic updates with a screen you can easily see, while helping you stay safe by not using your mobile phone. Get to work more easily and become better informed.

The Bus Ride

How we used to do it: A long wait, and the driver setting the tunes, or a noisy set of teens shouting excitedly on their way to school!

How to do it better: A bus ride is always great, but best to block out the noise.

Let’s be real, the bus driver and you probably have very different ideas of morning entertainment. Commercial radio DJs have scintillating conversations about the minutiae of their lives, over-dramatised to fill the gaps between the same three pop songs.

Wouldn’t it be better to fire up your favourite playlist and play games on your phone? A good pair of noise-cancelling headphones is the perfect way to escape the sound of traffic and Bozo and Beebus in the morning. If you like over ear headphones, the Sony Premium Noise Cancelling Headphones WH1000XM4 sound incredible and just turn the world off. Or, if true wireless is more your style, it’s hard to go past the Beats Studio Buds, which look cool and sound amazing. That way, you can get into work in a better mood, having already relaxed, and be ready to take on the day.

Whatever you need to make your transition back to the commuter life go more smoothly, we have it at The Good Guys. Head in-store or go online, and our friendly staff will be able to give you great advice and even better deals.

Things to know before you ride. Ride with caution and always wear a helmet and protective gear. Each state and territory in Australia have different rules and regulations for using your product, including where you can legally use such products and if you need to register them with your state’s road traffic authority. Any information provided by The Good Guys is general in nature only and may not take account of your specific circumstances. It is the responsibility of each user to check their local laws before riding.